A 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook the northeast, emanating from New Jersey this past Friday morning. Reports from as far as Boston to Baltimore spoke of the sudden scare, with many experiencing an event like this for the first time as earthquakes are known to be uncommon in this region. Danbury High School exploded into action as the earthquake hit.

Toward the end of the second block last week, students were interrupted by a sudden shake in the ground. Many initially thought it was an altercation between students or an abundance of chairs being moved. It took seconds for Principal Donovan to come on the loudspeaker to announce the emergency lockdown, also stating that it was “not a drill.” Everyone hurried to hit the ground, hiding under desks in a state of confusion. Word quickly spread that an earthquake had just hit over social media. After about twenty minutes of confusion, which cut into the beginning of the third block, Principal Donovan came on to inform us that the coast was clear.

Students and faculty made sure to voice their opinions on the unusual event. Senior Amy Kouch had an interesting perspective on the earthquake, stating that “[she] had fun” and that it felt “like a bonding experience.” Others looked frightened during passing period as worried parents called their kids in the hallways to make sure they were okay. Junior Nelson Ly said he was “not sure what was going on” and pointed out that some teachers looked distressed afterward.

The earthquake that shook the East Coast awake will be remembered by many for its unusual nature and sudden occurrence. Students and faculty who were just starting to wake up were interrupted from their classes as the quake hit. Around 6 pm the same day, aftershocks were also reported in Danbury. With such a large student population, others should be proud of how quickly DHS was to get to safety.